Guideway device for server casings

ABSTRACT

A guideway device for server casings includes a fixing board having a first, a second, a third and a fourth casing connecting end faces, and two guiding grooves. The first and second casing connecting end faces locate on two opposite sides of the fixing board; the third and fourth casing connecting end faces locate on the other two opposite sides thereof. The first and second casing connecting end faces respectively have a first combining hole and a second combining hole. The fixing board further has a plurality of through-holes extending therethrough each of which has two ends respectively located on the third and fourth casing connecting end faces. The guiding grooves are concavely formed in the third and fourth casing connecting end faces. Therefore, manufacturers needn&#39;t manufacture two kinds of guideway devices for server casings of the ATCA and the MTCA specifications, respectively, thereby reducing manufacture costs greatly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a guideway device, and particularly to a guideway device for server casings.

2. Description of Related Art

Generally, server casings include the server casing of the MTCA (micro telecom computing architecture) specification and the server casing of the ATCA (advanced telecom computing architecture) specification. The server casing of the MTCA specification has the height corresponding to that of electronic cards, so a plurality of guideway devices lies flat on upper inner side walls and lower inner side walls of the server casing of the MTCA specification to be locked thereon and users can respectively connect electronic cards slidably between guideway devices opposite to each other up and down so that each electronic card is inserted in a corresponding electrical connector in the server casings of the MTCA specification.

For the server casing of the ATCA specification, since the server casing of the ATCA specification are much higher than electronic cards, electronic cards are connected with electrical connectors disposed in the server casing of the ATCA specification by an adapter interface for electronic cards. The adapter interface for electronic cards includes an upper board, a circuit substrate and a plurality of guideway devices of another kind of specification which is locked between the upper board and the circuit substrate. A plurality of electronic card connectors and an adapter connector are disposed on one side face of the circuit substrate, facing the upper board. Each electronic card is slidably connected between adjacent guideway devices and inserted in a corresponding electronic card connector. After users turn the adapter interface for electronic cards 90 degrees, the height of the adapter interface just corresponds to that of the server casing of the ATCA specification. And then, the adapter interface for electronic cards is inserted into the server casing of the ATCA specification and the adapter connector located on the adapter interface for electronic cards is electrically connected with an electrical connector disposed in the server casing of the ATCA specification.

The above mentioned guideway devices for server casings of the two kinds of specifications all have combining holes and guiding grooves for being passed through by screws. For the guideway devices fixed in the server casing of the MTCA specification, their combing holes and guiding grooves are located in the same side face; for the guideway devices fixed in the adapter interfaces for electronic cards, their combing holes and guiding grooves are located in different side faces. Since the guideway devices for server casings of the two kinds of specifications have different structures, manufacturers must develop two sets of molds, which brings cost burden.

Hence, the inventors of the present invention believe that the shortcomings described above are able to be improved and finally suggest the present invention which is of a reasonable design and is an effective improvement based on deep research and thought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a guideway device for server casings which can reduce manufacture costs greatly.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a guideway device for server casings in accordance with the present invention is provided. The guideway device for server casings includes: a fixing board which includes a first casing connecting end face, a second casing connecting end face, a third casing connecting end face and a fourth casing connecting end face, the first casing connecting end face and the second casing connecting end face located on two opposite sides of the fixing board and the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face located on the other two opposite sides of the fixing board, wherein the first casing connecting end face and the second casing connecting end face respectively have at least one first combining hole and at least one second combining hole, the fixing board further has a plurality of through-holes extending therethrough each of which has two ends respectively located on the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face; and a pair of guiding grooves concavely formed in the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face.

The efficacy of the present invention is as follows: the guideway device for server casings of the present invention can be adapted for the server casing of the ATCA (advanced telecom computing architecture) specification and the server casing of the MTCA (micro telecom computing architecture) specification, thereby manufacturers needn't manufacture two kinds of guideway devices for server casings of the two kinds of specifications, respectively. Accordingly, manufacture costs can be reduced greatly and market competition capability is intensified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a guideway device for server casings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention, from another angle;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention, from another angle;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an adapter interface for an electronic card of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention mounted in a first server casing;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention mounted in a second server casing; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the guideway device for server casings of the present invention, in a used state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a guideway device for server casings 10 according to the present invention is provided. The guideway device includes a fixing board 1 and a pair of guiding grooves 2. The fixing board 1 includes a first casing connecting end face 11, a second casing connecting end face 12, a third casing connecting end face 13 and a fourth casing connecting end face 14. The first casing connecting end face 11 and the second casing connecting end face 12 are located on two opposite sides of the fixing board 1, and the third casing connecting end face 13 and the fourth casing connecting end face 14 are located on the other two opposite sides of the fixing board 1. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of concave portions 111 is formed at intervals in the first casing connecting end face 11, and each concave portion 111 has a first wall 1 111 of which two opposite ends are respectively extended slantways to form two second walls 1112.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, each of the first walls 1111 has a first combining hole 112 formed therein, the second casing connecting end face 12 has a second combining hole 121 formed therein, and the first combining holes 112 and the second combining hole 121 are threaded holes. The fixing board 1 has a plurality of through-holes 15 extending therethrough, and two ends of each through-hole 15 are respectively located on the third casing connecting end face 13 and the fourth casing connecting end face 14. The pair of guiding grooves 2 is respectively concavely formed in the third casing connecting end face 13 and the fourth casing connecting end face 14 of which the areas are greater than those of the first casing connecting end face 11 and the second casing connecting end face 12.

Further, the first casing connecting end face 11, the second casing connecting end face 12, the third casing connecting end face 13 and the fourth casing connecting end face 14 respectively have a plurality of first positioning poles 113, a second positioning pole 122, a plurality of third positioning poles 131 and a plurality of fourth positioning poles 141 protruding therefrom. There is one concave portion 111 between each two positioning poles 113. Some third positioning poles 131 and fourth positioning poles 141 are adjacent to the through-holes 15, other third positioning poles 131 and fourth positioning poles 141 are adjacent to the guiding grooves 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the first casing connecting end face 11 further has an elastic piece receiving groove 16 concavely formed therein, adjacent to the pair of guiding grooves 2. An elastic piece fixing portion 17, which is a rectangular board, is connected between two opposite inner side walls of the elastic piece receiving groove 16. A gap 18 is concavely formed in the third casing connecting end face 13, adjacent to the pair of guiding grooves 2.

The guideway device 10 further includes an integral metal elastic piece 3. The metal elastic piece 3 includes a first fixed portion 31, two second fixed portions 32, a pair of fixed reverse hooks 33, a contacting portion 34 and a bent portion 35. The two second fixed portions 32 are connected to two opposite sides of the first fixed portion 31. The pair of fixed reverse hooks 33 is connected with the ends of the pair of second fixed portions 32, which are far away from the first fixed portion 31. The contacting portion 34 is slantways connected to one side of the second fixed portions 32. The bent portion 35 is connected with the end of the contacting portion 34, which is far away from the second fixed portions 32.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the metal elastic piece 3 covers the surface of the elastic piece fixing portion 17. The first fixed portion 31 and the pair of fixed reverse hooks 33 respectively abut against two opposite end faces of the elastic piece fixing portion 17 to produce a force for holding the elastic piece fixing portion 17, and the contacting portion 34 and the bent portion 35 extend into the guiding grooves 2.

As shown FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, each of the third casing connecting end face 13 and the fourth casing connecting end face 14 of the guideway device 10 has two parallel guiding grooves 2. The number of the metal elastic pieces 3 is two. The number of the elastic piece receiving grooves 16 is also two, wherein one elastic piece receiving groove 16 is concavely formed in the first casing connecting end face 11 and the other elastic piece receiving groove 16 is concavely formed in the third casing connecting end face 13. The two elastic piece receiving grooves 16 are adjacent to the guiding grooves 2. There is one elastic piece fixing portion 17 disposed in each elastic piece receiving groove 16. The metal elastic pieces 3 cover the surfaces of the elastic piece fixing portions 17, wherein the first fixed portions 31 and the fixed reverse hooks 33 respectively abut against opposite end faces of the elastic piece fixing portions 17, and the contacting portions 34 and the bent portions 35 extend into the guiding grooves 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, an adapter interface for an electronic card 4 includes an upper fixing frame 41, a circuit substrate 42, a plurality of upright and juxtaposed guiding devices 10 and a pair of latches 45 one of which is pivotingly disposed on the guiding device 10 close to the right side of the circuit substrate 42 and fastens a right end of a front fixing frame 44. The circuit substrate 42 is fixed on a rear surface of the front fixing frame 44. The upper fixing frame 41 and the circuit substrate 42 are opposite to each other up and down. A plurality of card connectors 421 and an adapter connector 422 are disposed on the side face of the circuit substrate 42, facing the upper fixing frame 41.

The circuit substrate 42 has a plurality of spaced guideway fixing holes 423, and the second combing holes 121 formed in the bottoms of the guiding devices 10 are located corresponding to the guideway fixing holes 423 of the circuit substrate 42. Screws pass through the guideway fixing holes 423 of the circuit substrate 42 from bottom to top and are connected with the second combining holes 121 of the guideway devices 10, so that the bottoms of the guideway devices 10 are fixed on the circuit substrate 42.

The upper fixing frame 41 has a plurality of spaced guideway fixing holes 411, corresponding to the first combining holes 112 of the guideway devices 10. In the same way, the tops of the guideway devices 10 are fixed on the upper fixing frame 41 via screws.

As shown in FIG. 8, users can respectively connect the electronic cards 7 slidably between two adjacent guideway devices 10 and then insert the electronic cards 7 into the corresponding card connectors 421. Users can turn the adapter interface for an electronic card 4 90 degrees and then insert it into a first server casing 5 of the ATCA specification. The height of the adapter interface for an electronic card 4 turned 90 degrees corresponds to that of the first server casing 5, and the adapter connector 422 of the adapter interface for an electronic card 4 is inserted in an electrical connector in the first server casing 5.

As shown in FIG. 9, the guideway devices 10 are mounted in a second server casing 6 of the MTCA specification. The second server casing 6 has an upper fixing board 61 and a lower fixing board 62 disposed thereinside. The upper fixing board 61 has a plurality of upper fixing holes 611 and a plurality of upper positioning holes 612, spacedly and juxtaposedly disposed therein. The lower fixing board 62 has a plurality of lower fixing holes 621 and a plurality of lower positioning holes 622, spacedly and juxtaposedly disposed therein.

The third casing connecting end faces 13 and the fourth casing connecting end faces 14 abut against the upper fixing board 61 and the lower fixing board 62. The positions of the through-holes 15 align with the positions of the upper fixing holes 611 and the lower fixing holes 621. The third positioning poles 131 and the fourth positioning poles 141 are inserted into the upper positioning holes 612 and the lower positioning holes 622. Furthermore, a plurality of screws pass through the through-holes 15, the upper fixing holes 611 and the lower fixing holes 612. The thread pitch of the screws is similar to the thickness of the upper fixing board 61 and the thickness of the lower fixing board 62. Accordingly, based on the screws, the guideway devices 10 are fixed on the upper fixing board 61 and the lower fixing board 62.

As shown in FIG. 10, when users slide the electronic card 7 into the guiding grooves 2, the contacting portion 34 and the bent portion 35 move under the effect of the thrust force of the electronic card 7, and the bent portion 35 moves towards the gap 18. Once the electronic card 7 contacts the metal elastic piece 3, electrostatic charges on the surface of the electronic card 7 are taken away by the metal elastic piece 3.

The guideway device for server casings 10 of the present invention can be adapted for the first server casing 5 of the ATCA specification and the second server casing 6 of the MTCA specification, thereby manufacturers needn't manufacture two kinds of guideway devices for the server casings of the two kinds of specifications, respectively. Accordingly, manufacture costs can be reduced greatly and market competition capability is intensified.

What are disclosed above are only the specification and the drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and it is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various equivalent variations may be made depending on the specification and the drawings of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A guideway device for server casings, comprising: a fixing board, including a first casing connecting end face, a second casing connecting end face, a third casing connecting end face and a fourth casing connecting end face, the first casing connecting end face and the second casing connecting end face located on two opposite sides of the fixing board and the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face located on the other two opposite sides of the fixing board, wherein the first casing connecting end face and the second casing connecting end face respectively have at least one first combining hole and at least one second combining hole, -the fixing board further having a plurality of through-holes extending therethrough each of which has two ends respectively located on the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face; and a pair of guiding grooves, concavely formed in the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face.
 2. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first casing connecting end face has a plurality of concave portions, and the first combining holes are formed in the concave portions.
 3. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first positioning poles protruding from the first casing connecting end face and at least one second positioning pole protruding from the second casing connecting end face.
 4. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third positioning poles protruding from the third casing connecting end face and a plurality of fourth positioning poles protruding from the fourth casing connecting end face.
 5. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first casing connecting end face has an elastic piece receiving groove concavely formed therein, adjacent to the pair of guiding grooves; and an elastic piece fixing portion, which is a rectangular board, is connected between two opposite inner side walls of the elastic piece receiving groove.
 6. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a metal elastic piece of which one end covers a surface of the elastic piece fixing portion and the other end extends into the guiding grooves.
 7. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 6, wherein the metal elastic piece includes a first fixed portion, a pair of second fixed portions, a pair of fixed reverse hooks, a contacting portion and a bent portion; and, the pair of second fixed portions is connected to two opposite sides of the first fixed portion; the pair of fixed reverse hooks is connected with ends of the pair of second fixed portions, which are far away from the first fixed portion; the contacting portion is slantways connected to one side of the second fixed portions; the bent portion is connected with an end of the contacting portion, which is far away from the second fixed portions; the first fixing portion and the pair of fixed reverse hooks respectively abut against two opposite end faces of the elastic piece fixing portion; and the contacting portion and the bent portion extend into the guiding grooves.
 8. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another pair of guiding grooves formed in the third casing connecting end face and the fourth casing connecting end face.
 9. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first casing connecting end face and the third casing connecting end face each have an elastic piece receiving groove concavely formed therein, adjacent to the guiding grooves; and an elastic piece fixing portion, which is a rectangular board, is connected between two opposite inner side walls of each elastic piece receiving groove.
 10. The guideway device for server casings as claimed in claim 9, further comprising two metal elastic pieces of which each has one end covering a surface of the corresponding elastic piece fixing portion and the other end extending into the corresponding guiding groove. 